Pipe burying ripper and method

ABSTRACT

Apparatus and method for placing a flexible conduit below the surface of the ground and for depositing a uniform layer of gravel around the conduit as the ground is being continuously ripped or opened. A hollow soil ripper carried on a movable support rips the soil to a predetermined depth and allows the conduit to be fed therethrough to the lower end thereof at which a gravel distributor in the form of an auger directs the conduit rearwardly and uniformly distributes gravel in an envelope about the conduit as the gravel gravitates through a chute rearwardly of the ripper. The support can be elevated to permit the ripper to be moved over the ground to and from a job site. Also, the ripper can be elevated relative to the support to effect grade changes.

United States Patent 1 Clayhold et al.

PIPE BURYING RIPPER AND METHOD Inventors: Archie J. Clayhold, 1617 Virginia St.; Walter F. Hanson, 2326 Linden St., both of Dos Palos; Louis F. Wells, 61 10 Columbia Rd., Firebaugh, all of Calif.

Filed: Feb. 13, 1973 Appl. No.: 331,747

US. Cl til/72.5, 61/11, 61/72.6 Int. Cl 1302f 5/10, E02b 11/00 Field of Search 61/72.6, 72.1, 72.2, 72.5,

1,801,608 5/1970 Germany ..61'/72.6

[4 1 Jan. 14, 1975 1,244,400 2/1971 Great Britain ....61/72.5

Primary ExaminerJacob Shapiro Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Townsend and Townsend [57] ABSTRACT Apparatus and method for placing a flexible conduit below the surface of the ground and for depositing a uniform layer of gravel around the conduit as the ground is being continuously ripped or opened. A hollow soil ripper carried on a movable support rips the soil to a predetermined depth and. allows the conduit to be fed therethrough to the lower end thereof at which a gravel distributor in the form of an auger directs the conduit rearwardly and uniformly distributes gravel in an envelope about the conduit as the gravel gravitates through a chute rearwardly of the ripper. The support can be elevated to permit the ripper to be moved over the ground to and from a job site. Also, the ripper can be elevated relative to the support to effect grade changes.

10 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PIPE BURYING RIPPER AND METHOD This invention relatesto improvements in the laying of pipe below ground and, more particularly, to apparatus and a method for simultaneously laying pipe to a predetermined depth below the ground and placing gravel around the pipe in a uniform pattern.

Drainage pipe is oftentimes required in fields to drain water soaked areas to eliminate certain salts present in the water brought into the fields for irrigation. This problem can be acute in the salty silt-land of the San Joaquin Valley in California and, if the soil is not purged or these salts by removal of the water therefrom, the soil will become a wasteland encrusted with the plant-killing salts.

The laying of drainage pipe to eliminate this problem is not new. However, the conventional methods used to accomplish this require apparatus which is slow in operation and is cumbersome, with the result being that the unit cost of laying drainage pipe is relatively high. For instance, the conventional way of laying drainage pipe below ground requires that a trench be first dug in the ground, then the pipe is laid at the bottom of the trench followed by filling the trench with the soil removed from it.

Large soil rippers have been utilized in the past for laying pipe and gravel. However, they have been generally unsatisfactory for a number of reasons, including the fact that while they can adequately lay pipe below ground level, they cannot deposit gravel around the pipe in a uniform envelope or layer in a soil of fluid mud pressure.

The present invention is directed to apparatus and a method for laying drainage pipe below ground and simultaneously forming a uniform layer of gravel around the pipe. The apparatus for carrying out the present method is relatively simple in construction notwithstanding its massive size and can be pulled over the ground to cause the soil to be readily ripped as the pipe is fed continuously through the soil ripper structure to a predetermined depth and as gravel is positioned uniformly about the pipe at the desired depth below ground. The uniformity of the cross section of the gravel layer will assure that the pipe will properly receive drain water and will allow the water to enter the pipe without clogging the same. Gravel is fed by gravity from a hopper through a chute to the location at which the pipe is being laid, and an improved gravel distributor is located below the chute in the path of the gravel to cause it to be placed in a sheath or envelope of uniform thickness about the pipe.

To achieve the uniform distribution of the gravel, the distribution device surrounds a generally horizontal feed tube through which the pipe passes into the soil at the lower end of the ripper. The distributor device comprises an auger which directs the gravel rearwardly and about the aforesaid feed tube so that the gravel forms the sheath having a substantially uniform thickness throughout its length notwithstanding variations in the terrain over which the machine passes as the pipe is being laid.

The apparatus is also constructed to permit the ripper to be raised to an inoperative position so that the apparatus can be moved over the ground to and from a job site. Also, means is provided to vary the depth of the ripper so that the pipe can be laid along a particular grade.

The primary object of this invention, is therefore, to provide improved apparatus and method for simultaneously laying a flexible drainage: pipe at a predetermined depth below ground level and feeding gravel in a uniform envelope about the pipe as the apparatus moves continuously in a predetermined direction and rips the soil to a predetermined depth.

Another object of this inventionis to provide an apparatus and method of the type described wherein the gravel is automatically shaped so that it forms a sheath or envelope of uniform thickness around the pipe as the latter is being laid below ground level.

A further object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for laying drainage pipe in the manner described wherein the apparatus utilizes a rotatable augar surrounding a feed tube through which the pipe exits as it is laid below ground so that gravel directed to the augar from a hopper'thereabove can be shaped and will surround the pipe as the latter issues from the feed tube.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent as the following specification progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawings for an illustration of the apparatus of the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the apparatus in an operative position for feeding flexible, perforated drainage pipe and gravel into a location below ground level;

. FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, side elevational view, partly broken away and in section, of the rear end of the apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the apparatus in position for movement to and from a job site with the soil ripper thereof in an elevated, inoperative position; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary, side elevational view of the lower rear part of the apparatus, showing the way in which the upstream end of the pipe is anchored at the beginning of a pipe laying operation.

The apparatus of this invention is broadly denoted by the numeral 10 and is shown in its entirety in FIGS. 1 and 6, FIG. 1 showing the apparatus in an operative position for laying a flexible drainage pipe 11 and a sheath or envelope 12 of gravel below ground level and FIG. 6 showing the apparatus in an inoperative position for movement to and from a job site. The pipe is of conventional construction. It has a corrugated sidewall provided with perforations therethrough permitting drainage water in water-soaked fields to pass thereinto and to be conducted along the same.

Apparatus 10 includes an elongated support 14 which can be-of any suitable construction, such as an elongated beam. Support 14 has from and rear wheel assemblies 16 and 18 which, for purposes of illustration, include endless tracks 20 and 22, respectively. Support 14 and the wheel assemblies 16 and 18 define a vehicle adapted to be moved in a forward direction over the ground, the forward direction being to the right when viewing FIG. 1.

Rear wheel assemblies 18 are carried on the rear ends of a pair of legs 25 whose front ends are pivotally mounted by pins to support 14. A pair of fluid piston and cylinder assemblies 23 (FIGS. 1 and 5) are used to raise and lower the rear end of support 14 relative to rear wheel assemblies 18 and about the axle of front wheel assemblies 16. Each assembly 23 has a cylinder whose upper end is pivotally mounted to a brace 27 secured to and extending upwardly from support 14 and has a piston rod whose lower, outer end is secured to the axle 29 of the adjacent wheel assembly 18. Each assembly is coupled by hydraulic lines to a hydraulic pump 58 carried on support 14, whereby assemblies 23 can be simultaneously actuated to selectively raise or lower support 14 relative to wheel assemblies 18.

Support 14 has a platform 24 for mounting a coil 26 of pipe 11 thereon in a compact condition. The platform may be rotatable, whereby the pipe may pay out from the soil and move rearwardly into the open top of an upright, hollow ripper 28 shiftably mounted on support 14' near the rear end thereof for up and down movement with respect thereto. Guide structure 30 coupled with the upper end .of ripper 28 directs the pipe from its upwardly and rearwardly extending path into the ripper and along a downwardly extending path.

Ripper 28 includes a housing 32 having a leading, soil-cutting edge34 (FIGS. 3 and 4) and is adapted to move forwardlythrough the ground to rip the soil to a predetermined depth. Ripper 28 also has a lowermost, forward, plow-like extension 37 having a convex leading edge 38 (FIG. 4) operable to hold the ripper against upward movement as it advances through the ground. Ripper 28 has a passage 40 therethrough to permit pipe 11 to pass therethrough to its lower, open end.

A sleeve 42 secured to and extending transversely to and rearwardly from the lower end of ripper 28 has an opening (not shown) communicating with passage 40 so that pipe 11 can enter the sleeve after passing through the lower end of the ripper. The pipe then changes direction and extends rearwardly and passes into and through gravel distributor 44 hereinafter described. Distributor 44 is housed within a rear portion 68 of sleeve 42, the latter having an open rear end 46 spaced rearwardly from distributor 44.

Support 14 has a rear opening or slot 46 (FIG. 2) through which ripper 28 passes and is allowed to shift up and down with respect to the support. A pair of fluid piston and cylinder assemblies 48, only one of which is shown in FIGS. 1 and 6 are provided for raising and lowering ripper 28 with respect to support 14. To this end, each assembly 48 includes a cylinder 50 having a lower end mounted on support 14 and a piston rod 52 extending upwardly and outwardly from cylinder 50, the upper end of rod 52 being pivotally connected to the upper end 54 of a frame 56 rigid to and extending upwardly from the upper end of ripper 28 (FIG. 2). Actuation of assemblies 48 causes the ripper to be selectively raised and lowered with respect to the support 14. Thus, the depth to which the ripper penetrates the soil can be varied.

Assemblies 48 are coupled by hydraulic lines (not shown) to pump 58 mounted on the support 14 forwardly of ripper 28. Pump 58 is driven by a power source 60, such as an internal combustion engine or the like, also carried on support 14. A reservoir 62 above pump 58 supplies hydraulic fluid thereto. It is to be understood thatpiston and cylinder assemblies 48 can be pneumatic, if desired.

A gravel chute 64 rigidly secured to the ripper rearwardly thereof has a lower, open end 66 (FIG. 5) which is generally at the same level as the level open end of ripper 28. Open end 66 communicates with rear portion 68 of sleeve 42, portion 68 defining a housing or guard in surrounding, spaced relationship to gravel distributor 44 described in more detail hereinafter.

A gravel hopper 70 coupled with and extending upwardly from the upper end of chute 64 is adapted to receive a mass of gravel and to direct the same into the chute. Hopper 70 has an upper, open endfor receiving the gravel and may be provided with a top grill 72 which can be raised and lowered by a fluid piston and cylinder assembly 74 coupled with pump 58 to screen the size of the gravel entering the hopper and also to stop dirt clods. Any suitable means can be provided to deposit the gravel in the hopper. A mirror 76 carried by a brace 78 above the open top of hopper 70,can be used to view into the hopper from beneath to same to determine the level of gravel in the hopper.

Distributor 44 includes a rotatable auger 80 having a central, tubular body or feed tube 82 and an auger flight 84 rigidily secured to the outer surface of body 82. The front and rear ends of body 82 are open to allow pipe 11 to pass therethrough as body 82 rotates and as ripper 28 moves forwardly with support 14. Thus body 82 serves as a guide for pipe 11.

The front end of body 82 extends into a gear box 86 secured in any suitable manner within sleeve 42 near the lower, open end of ripper 28. Gear box 82 contains a pair of spaced bearings 88 and 90 for rotatably mounting body 82, the latter having an annular gear 92 rigid to its outer surface between bearings 88 and 90. A spur gear 94 in mesh with gear 92 is carried by a generally vertical shank 96 rotatably mounted on gear box 86 and extending upwardly therefrom. A universal joint 91 on the upper end of shank 96 near the lower end of i the ripper connects shank 96 to the lower end of a rigid link 99, such as a 2-inch square steel tube. Link 99 passes through ripper 28 and is rotatably coupled thereto by a pair of spaced bearings 101 near the upper end of the ripper. A base 103 secured to the top of the ripper supports a gear transmission 105 coupled to the upper end of link 99. Transmission 105 has controls 107 whereby the speed of rotation of link 99 can be changed. A hydraulic motor 98 supported on transmission 105 is coupled thereto to cause rotation of link 99. Motor 98 is coupled in any suitable manner to a source of fluid under pressure, such as pump 58, whereby, when motor 98 is actuated, link 99 and shank 96 are rotated to, in turn, cause rotation of body 82 and auger 84.

The purpose of distributor 44 is to shift gravel, which has descended in chute 64, in a rearward direction and about pipe 11 as the latter emerges from the rear, open end of body 82. Thus, auger flight 84 is arranged to di.- rect the gravel rearwardly and longitudinally of body 82. As shown in FIG. 2, thegravel distributor 44 is aligned with and disposed in spaced relationship beneath the lower, open end 66 of chute 64. The rear end of body 82 is adjacent to but slightly spaced forwardly of the rear extremity of opening 66 as shown in FIG. 2. Also, since sleeve 42 is substantially cylindrical, body 82 is generally concentric with the sleeve as shown in FIG. 5.

Portion 68 of sleeve 42 sufficiently surrounds distributor 44 so as to allow the gravel to form a cylindrical envelope about distributor 44. Moreover, sleeve 42 shapes the soil surrounding the same so that a cylindrical bore is formed in the soil to accommodate envelope 12 with pipe 11 therein, the soil having been ripped and thereby loosened by the action of ripper 28.

The rear, open end of sleeve 42 has a forwardly and downwardly extending rear edge segment 100 below an upper, arcuate edge segment 102. A pipe anchor 104 having a tubular body 106 has a forwardmost edge which mates with and is complemental to edge segments 100 and 102 as shown in FIG. 7 .Anchor 104 has a rear wall 108 provided with a pair of spaced, forwardly extending projections 110 having respective holes aligned with a hole 114 in body 106. A rod 116 having a handle 118 thereon is insertable through such aligned holes and through the upstream end 120 of pipe 11 when the latter is disposed between projections 110.

An eyelet 1 22 carried by rear wall 108 and extending rearwardly therefrom is adapted to be held in the ground by a stake 124 (FIG. I) so as to releasably secure anchor 104 at the starting position of the pipe laying operation. The anchor is releasably secured to sleeve 42 by a pin 126 insertable within the upper portion of body 106 and releasably carried by a rear extension 128 on sleeve 42. A cable 130 coupled with the pin is movable upwardly when a force is applied to the cable, such as from a remote location by the operator of apparatus 10. When pin 126 is elevated, the releasable connection between sleeve 42 and anchor 104 is broken; thus, the sleeve can move forwardly with chute 64 and ripper 28, leaving anchor 104 and the upstream end of pipe 11 in a fixed position. A bracket 132 carried by sleeve 42 supports the lower, forwardmost extremity of anchor 104 when the latter is carried by sleeve 42. Anchor 104 is recoverable after the pipe laying operation has been operable for a certain distance beyond the anchor. Thus, the anchor can be used over and over againQif desired.

In operation, apparatus is towed to a job site by a suitable self-propelled vehicle, such as a tractor. The front end of support 14 is provided with hitch means thereon for making direct connection to the towing vehicle. The apparatus is in the condition shown in FIG. 6 for towing to the job site, rear wheel assemblies 18 still engaging the ground but legs 25 being in inclined, forwardly extending positions with respect to wheel assemblies 18. The rear end of support 14 is tilted upwardly about the front wheel assemblies 16 by the actuation of fluid piston and cylinder assemblies 23. As the apparatus is towed to ajob site, ripper 28 and chute 64 remain in their elevated positions out of contact with the ground.

At the job site, a backhoe initially digs a short trench and then apparatus 10 is moved into positions so that ripper 28 and chute 64 can be lowered'into the trench with pipe 11 extending through passage 40 and sleeve 42 and releasably coupled by rod 116 to anchor 104. At the beginning of the pipe laying operation, pin 126 is elevated by lifting cable 130, thereby releasing the anchor from sleeve 42. Gravel will have been deposited in hopper 70 and allowed to gravitate in chute 64 into rear portion 68 of sleeve42. Also, pump 58 will have been actuated by the starting of motor 60, whereby fluid will be directed to hydraulic motor 98 to cause rotation of body 82 of gravel distributor 44.

The means for advancing support 14 forwardly can be of any suitable construction. For instance, the towing vehicle can be moved a distance forwardly of support 14, such as 100 feet or more, and the vehicle provided with a cable and winch assembly, can be maintained in a stationary position so as to push the support forwardly by operation of the cable and winch assembly. The movement of the support can be continuous until it approaches the towing vehicle, whereupon .the vehicle can then be moved forwardly along incremental distance to repeat the operation.

As support 14 moves forwardly, ripper 28 rips the soil in advance of edge 34 to loosen the soil and to allow pipe 11 to be laid to a predetermined depth in the ground. Also, gravel deposited in chute 64 gravitates continuously into sleeve 42 at rear portion 68 thereof and the rotation of body 82 causes auger flight 84 to direct the gravel within rear portion 68 of sleeve 42 to be directed rearwardly and about pipe 11 in a generally cylindrical sheath or envelope of uniform cross section as shown in FIG. 2. Grade changes can be made by actuating fluid piston cylinder assemblies 48 so as to raise or lower ripper 28 with respect to support 14. As the pipe is laid, it pays out from the coil of pipe on platform The coil is replenished as needed so that apparatus 10 can be operated continuously until the desired length of pipe has been laid in the ground. Also, grave] is periodically dumped into the hopper 70 so as to assure a continuous supply for forming envelope 12 around pipe 11 below ground level.

At the end of the pipe laying operation, piston and cylinder assemblies 23 are actuated to elevate ripper 28' and chute 64 into the inoperative position shown in FIG. 6. Then, the apparatus can be driven over the ground to a storage location or to a new job site.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for layinga flexible, drainage pipe comprising: a support; means mounting the support for movement over the ground; means carried by the support for ripping the soil to a predetermined depth as the support is moved over the ground, said ripping means having tubular structure for receiving the pipe and for feeding the same rearwardly into the ground at said predetermined depth as the ripper means moves forwardly through the ground; means adjacent to said ripping means for directing a mass of gravel to said structure; power actuated means within said structure for distributing the gravel in a substantially uniform layer about the pipe after the latter has been received in said structure; and power means coupled with said distributing means and carried by said ripping means adjacent to the ripper and thereof for actuating said distributing means.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said ripping means includes a generally upright, hollow housing said structure including-a tube near the lower end of the housing, the tube extending transversely of and in communication with the housing.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the directing means includes a chute having a lower open end, said structure havinga portion aligned with said lower end of the chute.

ing the same for movement over the ground, said support adapted to carry a length of said pipe; a hollow soil ripper shiftably carried by the support near one end thereof, said ripper having a length sufficient to permit it to extend into the ground and to rip the soil as the support is moved forwardly over the ground, said ripper having an upright passage therethrough to permit a pipe to be fed from the support to the lower end of the ripper when the latter extends into the ground; means carried by the support rearwardly of said ripper for directing gravel to a location adjacent to and rearwardly of the lower end of the ripper; a rotatable auger at said location and having a tubular body extending rearwardly of and communicating with said passage, said body having an open rear end to permit a pipe passing therethrough to exit therefrom; and a motor carried by the support exteriorly of the ripper and coupled with said auger for rotating the same relative to the ripper, whereby gravel directed to said location will be uniformly placed in an envelope about the pipe as the latter exits from said rear end of the body.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein is included means coupled with the supportfor mounting the rear end thereof for up and down movement with respect to the ground, said ripper and said directing means being adjacent to said rear end of the support.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein said directing means includes a chute having a lower open end, and a sleeve communicating with the chuteand surrounding said auger, said sleeve having an open rear end.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein said motor is carried at the upper end of the ripper, and including a rigid link coupling said motor and said auger together.

9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein is provided a gear box connected to the front end of the auger, said gear box having a vertical, rotatable shank, and. a U-joint interconnecting the upper end of the shank and the lower end of the link.

10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein is included a cylindrical guard coupled to said directing means and disposed in surrounding, spaced relationship to said auger, said guard having an open rear end, and a pipe anchor for releasable attachment to the rear end of said guard, said anchor having means thereon for releasably securing the same in a fixed position below the ground and provided with structure for releasably connecting one end of said pipe thereto. 

1. Apparatus for laying a flexible, drainage pipe comprising: a support; means mounting the support for movement over the ground; means carried by the support for ripping the soil to a predetermined depth as the support is moved over the ground, said ripping means having tubular structure for receiving the pipe and for feeding the same rearwardly into the ground at said predetermined depth as the ripper means moves forwardly through the ground; means adjacent to said ripping means for directing a mass of gravel to said structure; power actuated means within said structure for distributing the gravel in a substantially uniform layer about the pipe after the latter has been received in said structure; and power means coupled with said distributing means and carried by said ripping means adjacent to the ripper and thereof for actuating said distributing means.
 2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said ripping means includes a generally upright, hollow housing said structure including a tube near the lower end of the housing, the tube extending transversely of and in communication with the housing.
 3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the directing means includes a chute having a lower open end, said structure having a portion aligned with said lower end of the chute.
 4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein is included means coupled with the support for varying the depth of said ripper.
 5. Apparatus for laying a flexible drainage pipe at a predetermined location below the ground comprising: an elongated support having means thereon for mounting the same for movement over the ground, said support adapted to carry a length of said pipe; a hollow soil ripper shiftably carried by the support near one end thereof, said ripper having a length sufficient to permit it to extend into the ground and to rip the soil as the support is moved forwardly over the ground, said ripper having an upright passage therethrough to permit a pipe to be fed from the support to the lower end of the ripper when the latter extends into the ground; means carried by the support rearwardly of said ripper for directing gravel to a location adjacent to and rearwardly of the lower end of the ripper; a rotatable auger at said location and having a tubular body extending rearwardly of and communicating with said passage, said body having an open rear end to permit a pipe passing therethrough to exit therefrom; and a motor carried by the support exteriorly of the ripper and coupled with said auger for rotating the same relative to the ripper, whereby gravel directed to said location will be uniformly placed in an envelope about the pipe as the latter exits from said rear end of the body.
 6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein is included means coupled with the support for mounting the rear end thereof for up and down movement with respect to the ground, said ripper and said directing means being adjacent to said rear end of the support.
 7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein said directing means includes a chute having a lower open end, and a sleeve communicating with the chute and surrounding said auger, said sleeve having an open rear end.
 8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein said motor is carried at the upper end of the ripper, and including a rigid link coupling said motor and said auger together.
 9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein is provided a gear box connected to the front end of the auger, said gear box having a vertical, rotatable shank, and a U-joint interconnecting the upper end of the shank and the lower end of the link.
 10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein is included a cylindrical guard coupled to said directIng means and disposed in surrounding, spaced relationship to said auger, said guard having an open rear end, and a pipe anchor for releasable attachment to the rear end of said guard, said anchor having means thereon for releasably securing the same in a fixed position below the ground and provided with structure for releasably connecting one end of said pipe thereto. 